Gauge cock



msms GAUGE COCK Filed July 5, 1919 2 sheets-sheet 1 w MN m. R S

1% 4- mm 1 IL m Mm Nov. 6 1923.

B. B. WHITTAM GAUGE COCK Filed July s, 1919 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

By M

ATTORNEYS.

Fatented Nov. 6%, i923.

Uhl-HTEQ STATES nnnunmrn n. wm'r'rnnr, or ELIZABETH,

or nn'szoivnn, NEW JERSEY, meonronn'rrou on NEW annsnv.

WILCOX COMP hddhdt NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T BABCOCK &

eaten coca.

Application filed July 3,'

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, BENJAMI B. WHIT- TAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at 348 Grier Avenue, Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements .in Gauge Cocks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in valves or cocks and operating mechanism therefor, and more particularly to cocks used on the water columns of steam boilers and which are commonly known as gauge- (ocks, though it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to this use, but is capable of general application.

The gauge-cocks on water columns are generally used in sets of three and usually located in a vertical row upon the column. Owing to the high elevation of the water columns above the floor level on large boilers, it is necessary to provide means whereby such cocks may be operated from the floor level with convenience and dispatch.

llt is desirable that the cock operating mechanism be so constructed that wear and tear is reduced to a minimum and it is also desirable to make the said operating mechanism of light construction and of positive action and with a view to economy of space.

In gauge-cocks operated by a weightedmember, it has been heretofore customary to provide a means for lifting the weight in the form of a rigid rod or tube attached to the weight. Rods of this character are objectionable inasmuch as they add too much weight to the construction. In cases where the gauge-cocks are located high above the floor level, such rods are detrimental to the life of the cock since the distance from the cock to the floor makes it necessary to increase the diameter and consequently the weight of the rod to retain the, required ri idity. v i he added weight of such rods causes an excess shock and wear to the valve when the rod is dropped by the operator in closing the valve; rods as above described also occupy considerable space and are unsightly.

in accordance with my invention, means comprising a weighted-member are provided for normally maintaining the valve 1919. Serial No. 308,562.

accordance with my invention may therefore be a chain or other flexible member.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts and in which Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved gauge-cock partly in section with the Valve closed; Fig. 2 is a section ofthe valvebody taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa top view of the cock; Fig. 4 1s a side view partly in section showing the valve open; Fig. 5 shows a set of gaugecocks applied to a water column connected to the drum of a steam boiler, a portion of the drum having been broken away; one of the cocks being partly in section to show a slot and the position of other movable parts in the slot, and Fig. 6 is a view of the water column and gauge-cocks shown in Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow X, but showing a spatter-pan in position and having a small portion of the spatter-pan and a portion of a nozzle broken away.

Similar numerals will indicate similar parts throughout the respective views.

My auge-cock is shown as composed of a valve od 1 having a threaded end 2 for securing t e valve to a water column 4:]. of a steam boiler, the said column being illus-= trated in connection with a boiler 40 (see Fig. 5). The gauge-cock may however, be directly connected to any steam or water compartment as desired. The valve body is provided with a cylindrical chamber 3 hav-.

ing therein a movable stem a with a conical valve 5 at one end thereof.

A relatively small passage 6 leads from the chamber 3 to the lDtQIlOfOf the water column. The orifice 7 of the passage, ad= jacent the chamber, is formed to provide a seat for the valve 5. Near the end of the stem (upon which the valve is formed) is provided an annular groove 8 which, in cooperation with the wall of the chamber,

forms an annular passage 9. This passage is connected to the inner end of the chamber 3 by means of slots 10 cut on the stem and at an angle to its axis for the purpose ter an automatically clean the valve.

In Fig. 4 a tool 38 like a screw driver, is

shown in dotted lines and may be used, in

connection with slot 39 in the stem, to move or loosen the stem 111 case an exceptional amount of foreign matter hinders the rotary motion of the stem by the means .provided. When the weighted-member is 'removed, the said tool may be used to rotate the disc upon the seat and regrind the valve. As an outlet to the chamber 3, Iprovide a double nozzle 12 having outlet passages 13 and 14 therethrough. The purpose of the double nozzle will be hereinafter more fully described.

To hold the valve closed against the pres sure within the compartment to which it is attached, I provide a movable weightedmember, which as a Whole, is designated by the numeral 15; the said member being in the form of a lever and having one end 16 of any predetermined weight, as may be necessary to resist the pressure of the boiler or other compartment to which the cock may be applie The said weighted-member is arranged to rock on a fulcrum-in the form of a pin or screw 17 "which issupported in a bearing 18 integral with the valve body and at one end thereof.. 'On the under side of thesaid weighted-member is a projection 19 adapted to contact with ahead 20 on the stem 4.-

The head 20 is enough larger in diameter than the stem to form a flange 21 and upon the weighted-member is provided a pair of lugs 22 arranged to straddle the stem and contact with the said flange 21 when the weighted-member is raised or moved from its normal position and thereby move the stem and open the valve. A recess 35 is provided when necessary at the under side of the weighted end 16 to allow for the upward I movement of the lower weighted member when cocks are used in sets of three and in close relation to each other.

Figs.-5 and 6' show a water column 41 as used on steam boilers and a set of my improved cocks are shown attached to the same. Chains are also shown for operating any of the cocks at pleasure. At the ends of the chains, I-provide handles which are labeled, high, normal and low, respectively.

To operate the valve by means ofa downward pull upon a chain, I provide the weighted-member with an arm 23 and for the purpose of applying a force thereto, I

.member. Movably connected to end 28 015 arm 24 is a pull connection comprising a pull-wire 29 tothe end of which, a chain 31 of any desired length is connected, and of such a length as to be within reach of an operator at the floor level. (See Figs. 5 and 6). In order to allow the pull-wire to take an approximate perpendicular position in near relation to the gauge-cock, a hole or slot 30 is provided in the weightedmember through which the pull-wire 29 may move. This is especially advantageous where a set of gauge-cocks are used, and considerable economy of space is obtained.

It will readily be seen that a downward pull upon the chain 31 moves the lever 24 downwardly and the boss 27, contacting with the arm 23, operates to lift the Weighted end of the member 15 upwardly, thereby moving the projection or shoulder 19 and bringing the lugs 22 into contact with the flange 21 causing the valve stem to take theposition as shown in Fig. 4 and open the valve. The movements of the vari ous operating parts are limited in one direction by the lower side of the arm 23 contactingwith a flattened surface 32 on the valve. body to form a stop.

The opposite movement is limited by the stem when the valve is closed.

Upon the release of the chain, the various movable parts of the gauge-cock automatically return to their normal position through the action of gravity upon the weight 16 and the valve is immediately closed.

It is common, in connection with boiler gauge-cocks, to blow any steam or water from the cooks into a leader or spatterpan as shown in Fig. 6, the said spatterpan being designated by the numeral.33. This prevents the steam or water from blowing about the boiler room and provides a drainto any desired place. Due to the variety "of conditions met with in vboiler arrangements, it is desirable to be able to place the spatter-pan upon either side of the gauge-cocks and this necessity is met in my provision of the double nozzle, one of the said nozzles being closed by any suitable means as with a screw plug 11, and the opposite nozzle, namely, the one on the side with the spatter-pan, being free to discharge steam or water into the pan.

It will be readily seen that, although the operating levers, on the cocks, perform the same functions in each. cock, they are (where a set of cocks are used) of different lengths. The lever on the upper cock is the longest and the pull-wire 29 attached thereto passes through slots 30 in all the weighted-members, the intermediate lever being of a lesser length, the pull-wire attached thereto passing through. slots 30 in two such members and the lower lever 36 being the shortest and the pull-wire attached thereto passing through one member. Thus the pull-wires hang in a row and the arrangement-s of the cock operating levers is so designed as to avoid any interference between the pull-wires and the levers whether in their normal position or when the valve is open as shown by the position of member 15 in dotted lines on the lower cock in Fig. 5; this makes a compact and desirable set of 'auge-cocks.

Idhat I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is 1. In a gauge-cock for steam boilers, a valve body and a valve stem and a valve therein, a lever pivotedto the valve body and having a weight at one end, said lever engaging said stem to transmit motion from the lever to the stem when the lever is moved in either direction, an operating lever above the weight lever and pivoted at one end to the valve body and extending in the same direction as the weight lever, a pull-connection connected to the outer end of the operating lever and extending downward through a slot in the wei ht lever, and connections between the weigEt lever and the operating lever to cause the weight to rise and the valve to open when the pull-connection is moved downward.

2. In a gauge-cock for steam boilers, a

' valve body and a valve stem and a valve therein, a lever pivoted to the valve body and having a weight at one end, connections between the weight lever and the stem constructed and arranged to transmit motion from the lever to the stem when the lever is moved in either direction, an operating lever above the weight lever and pivoted at one end to the valve body and extending in the same direction as the weight lever, a pull connection for actuating the operating lever and connections between the weight lever and the operating lever to cause the weight to rise and the valve to open when the pull-connection is moved downward.

3. In a gauge-cock for :steam boilers, a valve body and a valve stem and a valve therein, a weighted lever connected to the valve stem and pivoted on the valve body, an operating lever pivoted on the valve body and operatively connected to said weighted lever, said weighted lever having a slot, and a pull-connection connected to the operating lever and arranged to pass downwardly through said slot, said levers being constructed and arranged to open the valve when the pullconnection is given a downward movement.

4. In a gauge-cock for steam boilers, a

valve body with a valve seat therein and a stem with a valve thereon, a hearing at one end of and integral with the valve body, a valve actuating lever having a weight at one end mounted upon the said bearing, a hearing near the opposite end of the valve body and integral therewith, an oierating lever mounted upon the last mentloned bearing and projecting partly over the weightedlever, a slot formed in the said weightedlever, a pull-connection connected to the operating lever and arranged to pass downwardly throu h the said slot, and means upon the sai downward movement of the pull-connection operates to move the weighted lever so as to open the valve.

5. In a gauge-cock for steam boilers, a valve body, a stem having one end enlarged to form a head and flange,-a valve at the opposite end of the stem, a seat for the valve, a pivoted weighted-member having a projection arranged to engage with the said head and hold the valve upon the seat, a pair of lugs upon the weighted-member to engage withthe said flange to move the valve away from'the seat when the weighted-member is lifted, an arm integral with the Weightedmember, an operating lever pivoted upon a bearing integral with the valve body, one end of the said operating lever extending partly over the weighted-member, a boss upon the operating lever near the fulcrum thereof and arranged to engage with the arm upon the weighted-member, a slot in the weightedmember, a pull-connection connected to the end of the operating lever and adapted to pass downwardly through the slot in the weighted- "member, the entire arrangement operating to open the valve when the said pull-connection is pulled downwardly and to automatically close the valve when the said pull-connection is released.

6. In a means for determining the variation in the water levels in steam boilers, a water column connected to the boiler, a set of gauge-cocks arranged in a vertical row and connected to the column, each of the said gaugecocks being provided with a valve and a slotted weighted-member to normally hold the valves closed and each cock having an operating lever to move the weighted-member so as to open the valve, the several operating operating lever whereby a Y levers being of different lengths and adaptvalves, and the release of the said connection.

operates to close the valve.

7. In a device of the class described comprising a fixed valve body provided with a chamber and having a valve seat Within the body, a valve stem with a valve thereon movable within the chamber, a double-nozzle having two out-let passages therethrough, one on each side of the vertical line through the center of said chamber, a removable plug fitted in one of the outlet passages, the other passage affording communication between the said chamber and the atmosphere, at one side of said vertical line, a weighted member operating normally upon the valve stem to hold the valve closed, an o erating lever and means actuated thereby w en said lever is depressed to lift the weighted-member and open the valve.

8. In combination, a valve member adapt ed to be connected to a source of fluid pressure, said member comprising a valve body formed witha cylindrical chamber'and an orifice communicating with said chamber and with the source of fluid pressure, a valve controlling said orifice and having a stem disposed Within said chamber, an annular groove being formed between-the said valve stem and the wall of said chamber, an outlet communicating with said groove, said valve stem being formed with a. slot arranged at an angle to the axis of the stem and communicating with the inner end of said chamber and with said groove, whereby a rotary movement, is imparted to the valve stem when the valve is opened.

9. In a device of the class described comprising a fixed valve body provided with a chamber and having a valve seat Within the body, a valve stem with a valve thereon movable within the chamber, a double-nozzle having two outlet passages therethrough, one on each side of the vertical line through the center of said chamber, a removable plug fitted in one of the outlet passages, the other passage 'afi'ording communication between the said chamber and the atmosphere, at one side of said vertical line, and means whereby the valve stem may be moved to open the va ve.

10. In a device of the class described comprising a fixed valve body provided with a chamber and having a valve seat within the body, a valve stem with a valve thereon movable within the chamber, said stem being provided with an annular groove, a passage connecting said groove with the front end of said stem, two nozzles located one on either'side of the vertical center line andcommunicating with the chamber formed by said groove, and means for closing either nozzle at will.

BENJAMIN B. WHITTAM. 

